Abstract
N6-methyladenosine is one of the most prevalent mRNA modification in eukaryotes. The regulation of this pervasive mark is a dynamic and reversible process. m⁶A RNA methylation is catalyzed by m⁶A writers, removed by m⁶A erasers and recognized by m⁶A readers, thereby regulating multiple RNA processes including alternative splicing, nuclear export, degradation and translation. Accumulated evidence suggests that m⁶A modification plays a crucial role in the pathogenic mechanism and malignant progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including cell survival, proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor metastasis and drug resistance. Moreover, the expression of m⁶A and its related proteins are dysregulated in clinical samples and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) of lung cancer patients, indicating that m⁶A modification may serve as a novel potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer. In this review, by summarizing a great number of recent reports related to m⁶A's function and its modulators, we aim to provide a new insight on the early diagnosis and drug development in NSCLC therapy.
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